“I am,” replied Gabriel. “I’ve always been proud of him.”

Jack nodded. The break from the previous conversation served to calm Gabriel’s voice.

“About the bad guy,” said Jack, “the choice to keep him in jail was not mine to make.”

“But if he didn’t quit, why didn’t you arrest him again? Why did you let him stay here?”

“I’m sorry,” replied Jack sincerely. “About a year and a half ago, seven labs were raided by the police all in one day. Many people were arrested. They were all released shortly after appearing in court. I work for an intelligence unit dealing with organized crime. The majority of the people arrested that day were too low on the criminal ladder for me to keep track of. There are far more criminals than there are police officers. We simply don’t have the manpower to keep following everyone we would like.”

“These men commit murder and you’re telling me they are too low on the ladder for you to work on?” she replied bitterly.

Jack sighed and said, “Maybe you have a right to condemn me, but I still need to drive you all to the hospital. My wife works in a medical clinic, but she has made arrangements to see that Faith receives priority.”

Gabriel did not utter a word during the forty-five minute drive to the hospital. Noah was a little more inquisitive, but was content to hear that it was a matter of routine for everyone to be checked by a physician under such circumstances.

When Gabriel took her children to meet with a physician, Jack spoke to a grief counsellor at the hospital by the name of Phyllis. He gave her his business card and asked her to help Gabriel and let him know if there was anything he could do.

“I’ll be glad to,” replied Phyllis. “Gabriel is lucky to have you involved. So tell me, how are Holly and Charlie doing? Do you see them?”

Jack was taken back. He did not know Phyllis, but during a previous investigation he had dealt with Holly and her young son, Charlie, who had become paraplegic as a result of a bullet. A bullet meant for Jack.

“Holly opened up a small restaurant on the North Shore,” said Jack. “I still see her on occasion. She and Charlie, and her daughter, Jenny, seem to be doing okay.”

“Good to hear,” Phyllis replied. “I saw her about a year ago when she brought Charlie in for a check-up.”

“Have you and I met?” asked Jack.

“No, but I saw you coming to visit Charlie. Holly thinks the world of you, by the way.”

“Thanks,” said Jack. “Holly is a nice lady. So is Gabriel, so I would appreciate anything you can do for her. I would also like to be kept in the loop.”

“I’ll do what I can for her, but as far as keeping you apprised of anything medical … well, I shouldn’t really do that without Gabriel’s permission.”

“I’m not exactly in her good books. One of the men running a lab in her basement is someone I had arrested before. I never kept track of him after the arrest and he simply changed locations and set up a new lab in Gabriel’s basement. He’s still awaiting trial. Indirectly I am to blame for this.”

“You’re responsible? What about the man you arrested? Seems to me we should hold the criminals responsible for their actions.”

Jack snorted and said, “Novel idea. You should suggest that to our judicial system.”

“The point is, it wasn’t you who would have released him.” She pointed her finger at Jack’s chest and said, “You’re not responsible. Indirectly or otherwise.”

Jack smiled politely. “Thanks, I guess you’re right.” Except I know he was released to an unsuspecting public. Knowing all that and I still didn’t do anything …

Phyllis agreed to keep in touch. Before Jack left the hospital, he once more met with Gabriel and handed her his business card.

She took it reluctantly and said, “I called my sister. We’ll spend the weekend with her.”

“My cell number is on the card,” Jack said. “Call me when you need to go home.”

“I don’t need your help,” she replied bitterly.

Jack stared at Gabriel momentarily and said, “I promise you that I will get who did this.”

“That will not bring Father Brown back,” replied Gabriel, “nor will it help my children. God will decide what mercy these men should receive.”

Jack thought about Gabriel’s comment on his way back to the parking lot. His self-incrimination became replaced by something else. Rage. Rage at a justice system he knew to be inept. By the time he arrived at his car, he lost his ability to hold his emotions in check. It resulted in a couple of bruised knuckles and a dent in his car door.

The trouble is, lady, your religious placebo might work for you … but I don’t believe in gods … or showing mercy to people like Varrick.

Chapter Five

It was late afternoon when Jack returned to the office.

“How did it go?” asked Laura.

Jack shrugged and said, “Did what I could. Put Gabriel in touch with a grief counsellor. It’ll be a few days before the doctors know anything. How did you make out?”

“The only address on Varrick is the one he gave when he was arrested last time. It’s his parents’ house in Port Coquitlam. He has the same address on his driver’s licence, but doesn’t have any vehicles registered to him. He was released without any reporting conditions. Connie has a team sitting on the parents’ house, but it doesn’t look good.”

“I’m sure it’s not. When’s his next court appearance?”

“He’s had his prelim and is scheduled for trial at the end of April.”

“Three months away.”

“Connie wasn’t happy when she heard.”

“We’ll find him before then,” replied Jack.

Laura gestured to a mound of reports on her desk and said, “I’m trying. I’ve collected every scrap of info I can on him and anyone he has been known to associate with.”

“He could still be taking orders through some prospect with Satans Wrath.”

“I know, but nothing is popping up to indicate who. I’ve been trying to triangulate any common denominators, phone numbers, anything I can find. Keeping track of Satans Wrath and their associates was bad enough before. Now that they are affiliating with all these street gangs it is worse. This is a mess,” she said, gesturing at all the reports. “It didn’t sound like he actually lived in Gabriel’s basement, but where he is staying is anybody’s guess.”

“He probably didn’t sleep at Gabriel’s because of the danger to his health,” said Jack. “Also it was booby-trapped, so that’s another sign that they weren’t there all the time.”

“With what we’ve got it seems hopeless,” lamented Laura.

Jack swept half the mound of paperwork onto his desk and looked at Laura. “We will find him,” he said determinedly.

It was early evening when Connie stopped in.

“Anything on the surveillance?” asked Laura, glancing up from her desk.

Connie shook her head. “The parents are there, but no sign of Herman yet. He could be in the house, but the only car in the driveway is registered to his parents. I’ve got a feeling he isn’t home. Let’s hope he shows up later.”

“I wouldn’t count on it,” said Jack. “How did Forensics make out?”

“No prints,” replied Connie, while wheeling an office chair over and sitting down. “Not even a footprint or tire track.” Her face brightened a little and she added, “Did find one black hair stuck to a piece of skull out on the lawn. Father Brown had grey hair, so it’s not his.”

“Varrick has red,” said Jack.

“Yeah, I know,” frowned Connie. “That’s why I’m here. How are you making out? Did he have a buddy with him last time he was arrested? Someone he might be staying with?”

“He did,” replied Laura. “I checked him first. Confirmed that he’s been in jail for the last two months for assault.”